Paula T. Ryan at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Delaware · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Paula T. Ryan
Judge · Delaware Family Court
Biography
Professional career
- Originally appointed by former Governor Jack Markell in 2012 to fill a vacancy created by the removal of Justice John Henriksen
- Chief Prosecutor, Sussex County Department of Justice (2001–2012)
- Law clerk to Hon. Randy Holland, Delaware Supreme Court (1996)
- Civil law attorney in Philadelphia, PA
- Deputy Attorney General, Delaware Department of Justice (Appellate Unit)
Education
- Bachelor’s degree, University of Pennsylvania
- Georgetown University Law Center — J.D.
Additional information
- Judges in Delaware’s Family Court are appointed for 12‐year terms, subject to reappointment, and must have at least five years of legal practice before the Delaware Supreme Court
- The Delaware Family Court has 18 judges, including Chief Judge Michael K. Newell
- Judge of the Sussex County Family Court in Delaware, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Delaware Senate, serving a 12‐year term
- Judge Ryan was born in Marion, Pennsylvania, is the sixth of seven children, and resides in Lewes, Delaware with her husband, a police officer
- Judges handle cases such as child support, custody, delinquency, and other family matters, and are required to have knowledge of family and child issues
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Delaware Judicial Branch operating procedures generally restrict courthouse photography and audio or video recording, subject to limited exceptions.
With limited exceptions, visitors will not be allowed to take photos or record audio or video in the courthouse.Operating Procedures for the Delaware Judicial Branch: Facilities ↗
Courtroom Technology Coordination
Statewide
Delaware courts publish courtroom technology capabilities, but counsel should direct equipment and setup requests to the applicable court before the proceeding.
If you wish to use any of the technology listed below, please make your request to the appropriate Court prior to trial.Courtroom Technology ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Delaware courthouse electronic-device policy
Delaware Family Court
Shared courthouse guidance; permission and stated exceptions remain applicable. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked August 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 26, 2026.
Delaware Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 26, 2026
View Delaware Courts official judicial roster ↗Operating Procedures for the Delaware Judicial Branch: Facilities
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026
View Operating Procedures for the Delaware Judicial Branch: Facilities ↗Courtroom Technology
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026
View Courtroom Technology ↗